Bermuda will enter a sailing team in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, it was announced today [July 14], saying the plan is to “find the best athletes in the country and match them with the best sailors in the country to build the best youth sailing team Bermuda has ever known.”

“The ACBDA committee tasked with putting the team together says it is looking to recruit not only Bermuda’s best sailors, but also the absolute best athletes it can find from every sport,” the ACBDA said.

“What we want are the most physically fit, focused, hard working young athletes we can find,” said Jane Correia chairperson of Team Bermuda’s Red Bull Youth America’s Cup Committee, an arm of ACBDA.

“Our plan is to find the best athletes in the country and match them with the best sailors in the country to build the best youth sailing team Bermuda has ever known. It’s a big task so we’ll be asking for the whole country’s support to make it happen.”

Some of Bermuda’s most accomplished professional athletes have already backed the soon-to-be-formed youth sailing team with messages of support in the YouTube announcement video. Triathlete Tyler Butterfield, swimmer Roy Allan Burch and footballers Nahki Wells and Reggie Lambe recorded smartphone videos to encourage young athletes to tryout for Team Bermuda.

The ACBDA said, “The first casting call for young athletes will take place Saturday, August 8, 2015. A second will take place in September of this year. Location and time will be released in the coming weeks along with information regarding the selection process.

“By early 2016 the selection committee hopes to identify a squad of 18 of our best sailors and athletes who, with intensive training and coaching, will be equipped to compete with the world’s best young sailors in foiling high performance catamarans. The final racing team will consist of six Red Bull Youth America’s Cup squad members, with others supporting as training partners and a shore team.

“Team Bermuda will be training and racing in the Great Sound before a hometown crowd as they face other youth teams from around the world in June 2017. The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in Bermuda will take place on one-design foiling AC45 catamarans – the same boats the professionals will use in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series events in 2015 and 2016.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Bermuda’s Red Bull Youth America’s Cup team athletes must:

Be at least 19 years-old and under 25 years-old on December 31, 2017

Be born in Bermuda or possess a Bermuda passport

“The selection committee aims to choose and announce a squad of 18 in the first quarter of 2016, after two casting calls and an intensive training camp. The first tryout will be Saturday, August 8,” the ACBDA said.

“A second will take place in September of this year. The intensive training camp date is yet to be determined. The final racing team is a squad of six. In addition, a shore crew will be recruited to work with the team.

“All talented athletes from any sport are encouraged to tryout, including those studying or training abroad over the next two years.

Any athlete or sailor intending to tryout must submit an expression of interest form online on or before August 4, 2015, at the ACBDA website: www.acbda.bm/join-team/.